Express versions of MS SW reach India

NEW DELHI —Microsoft India Pvt. Ltd. announced the launch of its “Express” product line for SQL Server (database server) and Visual Studio (developer tools suite).

SQL Server Express Edition and Visual Studio Express Edition are new tools for entry-level developers, programming enthusiasts and students who are interested in experimenting with application development. These offerings combine light-weight, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn products that enable novices to quickly build dynamic Web sites and Windows applications.

Used together or separately, these products will help a large class of entry-level developers to learn and evaluate development on the Windows platform. The two products are currently in beta stage and can be freely downloaded from http://msdn.microsoft.com/sql/express/ and http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/ respectively.

“India has a large developer and programming enthusiast community keen to learn new skills and experiment with new technologies,” said Mr. Tarun Malik, App Server and Enterprise Marketing Manager, Microsoft India. He further added, “These low-cost, easy to use products will help novices and students acquire application development skills in a simple way, enabling them to hone their skills as they think of taking application development up as a full time career.”

The Microsoft Express product line comprises:

SQL Server Express Edition, a free, easy-to-use version of SQL Server 2005 designed for building simple data-driven applications

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition, a lightweight tool for building dynamic Web sites and Web services

Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition, a streamlined programming tool that helps beginning programmers learn how to build Windows applications

Visual C# 2005 Express Edition, Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition and Visual J# 2005 Express Edition

The Express products include built-in learning and evaluation tools that offer not only a highly productive and streamlined development environment, but also tutorial guidance and sample applications non-professionals need. For example, each Express product includes one or more starter kits, source code and accompanying tutorials that provide users with a sample application that they are free to customize. With these products, nonprofessionals can build exciting applications for themselves, their friends or their school projects.